A Sweet Goodbye

A Sweet Goodbye

©lL0tus

Un-beta’d

Rated Mature

Angst


Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of lL0tus. lL0tus is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

Summary: Sasuke watched as his beloved Naruto marry another leaving him behind and having them remain as they were… bestfriends. Angsty.

Pairings: Naruto X Hinata, Sasuke X Naruto (One-sided)

Author’s Note: Just a little something I cooked up while thinking of some emotional issues I am currently going through. Hope you enjoy the emo Sasuke.

A Sweet Goodbye


I couldn’t help but wonder what if I’d met him earlier. Would he have seen me as more than just a friend? We’ve talked about it many times before but he always would laugh it off like nothing saying that he’s in love with Hinata. Don’t get me wrong the blue haired girl was absolutely wonderful and sweet. Everything a straight boy would want in a wife or girlfriend and that’s exactly what Naruto got. Leaving me in the sidelines as he humored and romanced the Hyuuga girl. I sighed as I watched the blond play with Hinata’s blue hair while whispering sweet nothings in her ear causing her to blush madly. I smiled sadly to myself, I was happy for them. I truly was but I would always wonder… what if I was there first? Would things have been different?

Naruto looked away from Hinata and met my eyes in confusion. He mouthed to me silently with his idiotic expression, “What is wrong?” I smirked and mouthed back, “Nothing. Have fun tonight. I’ll see you later.” He grinned widely nodding before turning his attention back onto Hinata, his fiancé. My smirk dropped immediately. I was so fake. Turning away I walked through the kitchen and pulled open the door before making my exit. Closing the door behind me I’m greeted by snow. The door clicked shut before I pushed my back up against the wooden frame.

The cold snow rested against my cheeks before melting into a clear liquid. Soon my cheeks were wet and I couldn’t distinguish between melted ice and tears. Why was my fate so unfortunate? Did I deserve any of this? I closed my eyes remembering my former lover who died six years ago. He was the total opposite of Naruto but I stilled loved him desperately. I couldn’t help but chuckle softly to myself. I lost him too. I lost him to himself, suicide. And the funny thing is he was related to Hinata Hyuuga. His name was Neji Hyuuga, my former bestfriend and lover. My heart clenched in pain as I’m reminded of his unmoral death. He shouldn’t have taken his life because in the end he left me lost and alone.

I heard a loud moan escape through the creases of the door. It was the moaning of Hinata.

“Naruto…” She cried in pleasure causing my fist to clench tightly. I pushed myself off the door’s frame and began walking upon the white snow. The burning of my eyes was killing me but that was nothing compared to the battle within my body. I hated this! This horrible feeling of being too late. Always… too late.

A small snowball smashed into my back causing me to turn my head slightly irritated. It was a small girl with large yellow eyes. She wore a large grin, “Sorry mister! You looked really down. I just wanted to see you smile a little.” I stared at her for a moment before turning my body around in her direction. I bent down and opened my arms, “Come here. Where are your parents?” She walked toward me slowly with a snowball clenched in her hand. I smiled when she held out the snowball saying to me, “You can hit me back as revenge.”

I smirked and reached out ruffling her hair saying, “Come on let me take you home little girl.” She pouted cutely, “No! I don’t want to go home. Mommy will make them do bad things to me again.” I cocked an eyebrow at the strange statement. Her mother would make who do bad things to her? I rose from my squatting position and held out a hand to her asking, “Then… would you like to stay with me for the night?” She studied my face for a moment before asking suspiciously, “You’re not a rapist are you?” My eyes almost bulged out of my head at the accusation. Where did this little girl learn such a word?

“No I’m not. But don’t ever accept an offer like this again from anyone else. You might get so lucky next time.” She nodded before taking my hand. We began walking on the snow in silence until she began humming to herself. I smiled warmly at the girl’s innocence. She couldn’t be a year older than eight. Pure and soft as snow she was. She stopped humming and looked at me meeting my eyes. She asked, “What is your name mister?”

I turned away from her, “Sasuke. And you?”

She grunted before replying, “Aina but you may call me Ai.”

“Ai it is.”

We got to my house within ten minutes and were greeted by warmth inside. Ai stretched and yawned loudly before pulling off her thick jacket and dropping it on the ground. She had a ridiculously thin body making me wonder if she ate any food at all. She caught my gaze and wrapped her arms around her fragile form saying softly, “I… I…”

“Shhh. Would you like something to eat?” I asked not wanting an explanation. I don’t think I could’ve stomached it, especially tonight.

She smiled brightly before nodding madly.

As I prepared a small meal my small black cell phone rang causing me to pull it out. The ID read Uzumaki Naruto. I frowned deciding whether or not I should answer his call. Finally making a choice I flipped open the phone’s cover and held the piece to my ear asking, “What do you want dobe?” A soft chuckle is heard over the phone followed by, “Sasuke dear I’m lonely.” I flinched at his tone. He always loved to playfully tease me not knowing he was actually teasing me in reality. I placed the wooden spoon upon the counter before turning the stove off and saying into the receiver, “Naruto I’m a bit busy for your little games.”

“Awww. But Sasuke dear…”

“Sasuke-sama? Is that soup I smell?” Ai asked causing Naruto’s voice to freeze on the other line.

I nodded, “Yes Ai. Go sit in the living room and I’ll be there in a few.” She nodded before rushing off into the other room. I listened to Naruto breathe slowly. Why wasn’t he saying anything? “Naruto? Are you still there?”

“Yeah. Who was that?” He asked in a struggled tone.

I cocked an eyebrow at his strange behavior. He usually was excited when he heard a girl’s voice around me. What was the difference now?

“She’s just a girl I…” I couldn’t say I just picked her up from the street he’d think I was crazy for doing such a thing. A white lie couldn’t hurt, “I’m friends with her parents and they asked me to look after her for the night.” There was silence between us before Naruto’s bright voice echoed once more, “Wow! Sasuke the babysitter. How old is she?”

“Eight.”

“Awww. She must be adorably cute. Possibly cuter than Hinata-chan.” I frowned at the mention of Hinata’s name. Again I remind you I didn’t hate her. I just envied her for what she had.

“Yeah Ai is a lot more cuter.” I teased back.

“Hmm. Sasuke? I’m nervous about tomorrow.” I sighed. He was talking about the wedding tomorrow. Yes Naruto was getting married tomorrow and here I was with a stray cat and a broken heart. I licked my lips before replying, “Don’t be. I’ll be there, your parents will be there, and your friends will be there. Everyone who loves you will be there.” Naruto laughed gently on the other end, “As long as you’re there I’ll manage.” My heart clenched in pain once again. Why did he have to say such wonderful things to me. He was causing me white pain.

“Naruto… I’ve got to go. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.” Naruto quickly said his goodbyes before we closed our connection with a simple friendly ‘I love you.’ A friendly set of words on his part but much more on my part. I sighed as I looked at the phone.

“You love that person.”

I quickly turned around to see Ai staring at me with concerned eyes. I smiled before replying to her, “He’s my bestfriend. Of course I love him.” She looked at me with doubt before allowing it to pass. We both headed into the living room area and had hot soup enjoying the warmth of the fireplace and each other’s company. The night went by rather quickly with me waking up to Ai sleeping upon my chest.

I stroked her cheek gently and whispered to her, “Wake up little Aina.”

She moaned out stubbornly, “My name’s Ai.” I chuckled before picking her up from my chest and laying her upon the couch gently. I quickly headed into the shower to get ready for the wedding. As I showered I wondered if I should take Ai with me. I couldn’t leave her home and I clearly wouldn’t get an address from her. I also didn’t have time to go to the police with the small girl. Pressing my palms up against the tiled wall I wondered what it would be like to touch Naruto in an intimate way. A heated blush covered my cheeks as I imagined his naked form under me. Closing my eyes I blocked out the images.

Two hours later I stood at the altar with Gaara, Kiba, and Shikamaru in line with me. On the other side were the four girls Hinabi, Sakura, Ino, and Temari. My hands were sweating from nervousness. I didn’t think I could do this. Losing another person I loved was just too much for me to take. Closing my eyes I fought back the tears. I couldn’t cry in front of these hundreds of people. I felt someone poke my side causing me to open my eyes to meet green orbs.

Gaara said to me, “Stop it Sasuke. Don’t beat yourself up.” He was the only one who knew of my feelings toward my bestfriend. He knew how I felt, after all he was in love with someone he couldn’t have either. He was in love with the bride. Both of us were basically losing our only reasons for existence but did it matter at all? Naruto and Hinata loved each other and that’s all that mattered in the end to us. The sound of music playing caused my trail of thoughts to come to an abrupt stop. I turned my attention to the entrance to see Naruto walking down the aisle. I felt my throat tightened at the sight of him. He wore a white suit with a gold tie and had his hair gelled up nicely.

My chest swelled as I’m suddenly reminded of what was not mine to have. Our eyes met and he smiled at me widely. I returned the smile equally before my eyes moved toward Ai who was sitting in the first row looking at me in concern. She frowned at me and mouthed silently, “You’re a fool” I swear where did this little girl learn such words? I turned my gaze away from her as Naruto stood beside me.

He said to me silently, “The time’s finally here Sasuke.”

I nodded before turning my eyes toward the now walking bride who held the hand of her father. She looked beautiful in her cream gown and elegant gloves. She was perfect for Naruto. She reached the altar and the ceremony began with the pastor reciting vows and such. But during the whole ceremony I found my eyes glued to the blond having the prayers unheard. He looked so happy and contented with marrying Hinata. I smiled remembering all the fun times we’ve had in the past. Our first meeting on the internet to our first Christmas meet-up and now years later here I am living in the same town as him and as his bestfriend. My eyes began to burn again but I chose to ignore it. Nothing mattered anymore. Absolutely nothing.

He was happy. So I was happy.

They ended the ceremony with a kiss. A kiss I wanted so badly. Closing my eyes I blocked the images from my mind. Instead I saw him and I under a tree as snow fell. He was gently wrapped in my arms as I placed soft kisses down his neck. A smile formed upon my lips as I felt suddenly warm. A dream it truly was, a wonderful dream.

Cake was cut. Gifts were exchanged and drinking took place.

Hinata retired early leaving Naruto and I alone on the balcony. He was leaning up against the railing looking up at the stars as snow fell down upon him. I felt myself blush at the sight. He held such an extraordinary beauty.

“Sasuke? Do you want to know a secret?” He looked down to meet my eyes in an intense gaze. I froze and swallowed the lump in my throat asking, “What is it?” He was clearly drunk and very vulnerable. I took a few steps forward toward him as he appeared to have an inner battle with himself before asking me, “Do you love me?” I stopped moving. My body was now frozen stiff. I couldn’t feel my legs and felt my entire body become suddenly numb. Had someone told him? But no one knew other than Gaara. I frowned and laughed it off saying, “Of course I do dobe.”

He doesn’t laugh but instead said calmly, “If I’d met you first… I would’ve fallen in love with you instead of Hinata-chan.” My laughing ceased as his words sank in. Did he just say what I thought he said? I couldn’t find any words in my large vocabulary to make a statement and I don’t think I ever could’ve. Instead I looked away from him and said silently, “Do you regret marrying her?” He took the final steps toward me causing me to look up into his blue eyes. They were tear filled. My heart broke at the sight causing me to wrap my arms around him protectively as he clutched onto my blazer.

He cried, “No. I love Hinata-chan. She’ll make a wonderful wife and lover so, no I don’t regret marrying her. But…” he pulled away from the hug and peered into my onyx orbs before closing the distance between us. His lips moved against mine in a chaste kiss causing my heart to beat rapidly. My eyes were wide with shock and before I knew what was happening I was returning the kiss. There was no tongue involved just our moistened lips moving against each other’s. I held him tighter as I broke the kiss and rested my forehead against his own saying softly to him, “I love you Naruto.”

He cried again releasing tears as he spoke, “I… I know. I love you… too but… Sasuke forgive me.” He then pushed me away and ran into the main hall. I watched his figure disappear into the drunken crowd. I smiled sadly to myself and whispered to no one in particular, “But you love Hinata-chan more.” A single tear slid down my cheek before I fell to the ground to my knees. Tears released themselves horridly causing me to choke a few times feeling my heart being pulled and ripped apart repeatedly. Feet came before me causing my eyes to look up meeting golden orbs belonging to Ai. She was also crying as she reached down and took my cheeks into her hands. Her thumbs wiped away my tears as she said soothingly, “That was goodbye Sasuke-sama.” I nodded finally understanding what had occurred.

She had told Naruto and he wanted to give me a final sweet goodbye. A goodbye neither of us would ever forget. I smiled before picking myself up and taking her hand into my own. We walked out of the hall hand in hand as we left everything behind us. Naruto that was your sweet goodbye and this was mine.

As I drove out of the village I peered over to the passenger seat to Ai who was currently sleeping peacefully. I smiled and said to myself I have found another reason to keep on living. After a week I found out why Aina refused to go home. Her mother would sell her own daughter’s body to drunken men for money. Aina ran away wanting to get away from it all meeting me on that fateful night. The night that changed both of our lives. As months passed by Aina grew onto me and I got full custody of the smaller girl. She still continued to call me Sasuke-sama but I knew the habit would break as she got older.

Naruto and Hinata were happily married and were expecting a child soon. I was happy for them and they knew that for I would shower them with love every time I visited. Hinata’s belly grew huge and was looking as beautiful as ever.

Hinata always asked why I chose to move so far away and I always gave her the same answer. I wanted a better education for Aina which was partially true but I always left out the other part. The part of which I loved her husband and couldn’t bear to see the man I love with another person. Naruto never questioned my move for he knew that that was my way of saying a sweet goodbye.

Okay. Yes it’s full of angst and drama or at least I hoped it was. I actually wrote this rather quickly and may have had several mistakes but I tried not to make careless ones. If you do happen to find mistakes please excuse my un-beta’d work. So now I shall take my leave and please do leave reviews on your thoughts and feelings on this.

lL0tus-